The goal of this editorial is to provide a short review of the seven years in which I have formed part of the editorial team of the JAIRM as editor-in-chief, and to suggest the challenges that, from my point of view, are key to the development of the journal and this area of research.

Strongly and firmly, product customization and a la carte features have evolved, aided by the extensive development of e­ Commerce, up to becoming an essential trait in most of online purchasing processes across almost every industry.
Nowadays, huge possibilities of customization are offered to the customer in order to meet the different needs of each individual through multiple extras, no matter when, where or what they are buying. Several combinations of these multiple attributes that could be chosen or added to a base product constitute the main structure of those purchasing processes, which aim to provide the appropriate product for any individual.
In this scenario, contextual effects affecting customer's behavior within these small worlds of choices become deeply relevant. Every year, the number of purchasing decisions occurring in front of a device screen increases, highlighting the importance of understanding which processes underlie below those limited sets of information and how do they influence our perceptions.
This thesis aims to contribute to the existing research on contextual effects affecting purchasing decisions focussing on decoy options. The aim of this research is to develop a better understanding on decoy options and, in particular, being able to integrate this knowledge under a real and practical approach, understanding decoy options and decoy effect as non isolated elements which are affected by other contextual effects and exposed to interactions.
In Chapter 1 of the thesis, an overview on the different contextual effects which are likely to affect the performance of decoy effects is presented. After introducing decoy effect and for every scenario, formulation of the interaction hypothesis is developed, always considering the air transport industry as a reference for practical examples. A total of nine interactions are evaluated and discussed out of nine different effects. This selection is limited to those more prone to appear in real purchasing processes as will be further discussed in the same Chapter 1.
Two different studies are developed, each one aiming to answer one specific question. In the first study, presented in Chapter 2 the experiment proposition gives an answer on how multiple decoy options within the same choice set affect decoy effect performance. Moreover, the experiment is discussed under different approaches, presenting the main theories about the cognitive processes that lead to a change in individuals' perceptions through decoy effects and testing them in this new scenario. Different types of decoy are tested and the effect of the inclusion of a no-choice option is also discussed. One of the outcomes of this study identifies which are the decoy type pairs that positively interact with each other so that the overall effect is to be enhanced. In the second study, presented in Chapter 3, the effect of fatigue understood as cognitive effort, is evaluated considering how it affects decoy effect performance. In the experiment, multiple combinations of individuals with different levels of cognitive effort are asked to complete a task that contains several choice sets containing a decoy option. This study leads to understand how decoy options' performance is affected by the previous context of the individual and gives significant insight for designing purchasing processes with multiple and complex stages. Finally, Chapter 4 presents the summary and discussion for the conclusions obtained for the previous findings

'A typical problem of Extremal Combinatorics is to maximise or minimise a certain parameter given some combinatorial restrictions. This area experienced a remarkable growth in the last few decades, having a wide range of applications that include results in number theory, algebra, geometry, logic, information theory, and theoretical computer science. There are also many practical fields that were greatly influenced by ideas from Extremal Combinatorics such as, for example, analysis of large networks, ranking of web-pages, or shotgun cloning of DNA fragments.
The Principal Investigator (PI for short) will work on a number of extremal problems, with the main directions being the Tur\'an function (maximising the size of a hypergraph without some fixed forbidden subgraphs), the Rademacher-Tur\'an problem (minimising the density of F-subgraphs given the edge density), and Ramsey numbers (quantitative bounds on the maximum size of a monochromatic substructure that exists for every colouring). These are fundamental and general questions that go back at least as far as the 1940s but remain wide open despite decades of active attempts. During attacks on these notoriously difficult problems, mathematicians developed a number of powerful general methods. PI will work on extending and sharpening these techniques as well as on finding ways of applying the recently introduced concepts of (hyper)graph limits and flag algebras to concrete extremal problems. Since these concepts deal with some approximation to the studied problem, one important aspect of the project is to develop methods for obtaining exact results from asymptotic calculations (for example, via the stability approach).
The support by means of a 5-year research grant will enable PI to consolidate his research and build a group in Extremal Combinatorics.'

Background: Currently there is no history, no studies analyzing accidents in the construction sector, proving empirically that the implementation of a management system of prevention of occupational hazards (SGPRL), whatever their nature, reduce accident rates and significantly improves working conditions. There are studies regarding the effectiveness of SGPRL have serious methodological limitations and are hardly comparable. Multinational companies (MNCs) in the construction industry have two suited to these methodological problems saving features; on the one hand their presence in different countries and the volume of work that provides large sample sizes, a large number of annual working hours, great diversity of workers and types of construction projects. On the other hand, MNEs have the necessary resources: SGPRL implanted and externally audited obtaining reliable systems observable, measurable and evaluable data and trained staff. So MNEs are suitable for field work with the aim to provide empirical evidence of the impact of the implementation of a SGPRL in workplace accidents. All this opens the door to the development of applied research in the construction sector and the approach of research methodologies and mathematical models that allow to compare results. To contribute to the advancement of research in the area of organization and management of occupational risk prevention companies in the construction sector, by providing: - empirical demonstration of the effectiveness of a SGPRL in reducing accidents in the construction sector - A mathematical model of the accident, based on panel data, allowing replicate and compare empirical results. Methodology: Rationale for research through the documentation and review of studies conducted to date to provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the implementation of a (SGPRL). Following this review the state of the art is conducted field research at international level consisting implement a SGPRL, based on OSHA 18001, in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the State of Florida (USA). The fieldwork period covering 48 consecutive months for which the values of different variables in order to assess the effectiveness of SGPRL in terms of reducing accidents are collected. The sample size! during working hours it is more than 20 million hours worked, with a monthly average of about 2,500 workers. Whereas a correction factor of about 40% due to the rotation of workers in the construction sector, the average number of employees exceeds 3,500 per month. Expected Contributions: Study of state of the art on the available empirical evidence about the effectiveness of SGPRL in reducing workplace accidents in the construction sector. documented experience on the implementation of SGPRL successfully in 5 countries. Available field data and developments, corresponding to 50 projects of civil and building works carried out in Argentina (4), Chile (8), Mexico (4), Peru (4) and the US labor accident (State Florida) (more than 200) during the period 2009 and 2012, following the introduction in each country of SGPRL OHSAS18001.

In this dissertation, I propose a theoretical model to rate enterprises in the context of social, solidarity or popular economics . The model defines a model of three dimensions to classify these organizations, going from generic to specific specifications: Economic-Social, Politic-Social, and Equality-Gender, where the enterprises subject in this study are located in the first quadrant.
Once the model is defined, I evaluate empirically firms that commercialize renewable energy, having the intention to trigger a change of the way electrical energy is generated, towards more sustainable and less contaminating technologies.
I detail we study the intention of customers to substitute a traditional utility company by a utility company delivering 100% renewable energy.

For the past five years, Engineering students from Barcelona School of Civil Engineer in UPC BarcelonaTech have shown that educational intervention in first-year engineering programs can positively affect students’ awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) concepts by introducing students to basics concepts and motivating them to follow next ones. At Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering, also belonging to UPC BarcelonaTech, STEM concepts are strengthen to high school students by means of the Mercat de Tecnologia, (a science fair among schools) and by some recommended but not compulsory propaedeutic courses of basic subjects, carried out the week prior to the official start of university studies. Still, many students entering university show
some lacks on theoretical items, particularly those who do not follow the usual way to access to tertiary studies after obligatory secondary education but a parallel and more practical one. In fact, there is a large heterogeneity in terms of the average previous knowledge of every subject as well as in the individual curriculum of each student, since they might have enrolled different courses before entering the university. Due to those lacks, some professors at both aforementioned
schools have developed a MOOC oriented to new university students. The designed MOOC is useful in order to improve the basic knowledge of new students regarding these sciences.

The EHEA has brought profound changes in higher education to bring attention to the process of student learning instead of being, as before, focused on the teaching of the teacher. The new paradigm is a change in the assessment of teaching and learning, and demand a new way of acting oriented education and learning which places the student in a central place (Sangrà et al., 2004). The role of the student and the teacher must change, students must take an active attitude and the teacher must guide, advice and guide the activities carried out by the student (Municio Pozo et al., 2006). To promote these behaviors in participants of educational activity is not easy.
Numerous studies show that changing how we assess and what we asses it is possible to change the way students learn. An educational model that puts the student at the center of the learning process should be structured around a continuous assessment, which takes place not only at the end of the learning process but during it, that provides students with useful information to improve when if even for a time (Gibbs & Simpson, 2004). Seven of the ten conditions according to Gibbs and Simpson must meet a system of continuous assessment to promote effective learning, refer to the feedback provided by teachers in the activities of the student during the evaluation process, however, feedback without a response from the student is totally unproductive learning (Laurillard 2002). The student must read and be applied, and this point means that the feedback should not only be well prepared and provided in time to be used, but also the ability to promote student self-regulation (Nicol & Macfarlane-Dick, 2006) to ensure that students are committed to learning.
Given the exponential growth that the online courses are taking, and is expected to continue (Allen, Seaman & Garrett, 2007), feedback is a must. Therefore, it should deepen the instructor feedback feasible strategy to accommodate a wider range of subjects and types of activities of continuous assessment. To promote the strategy of classroom instructor feedback with a high ratio teacher / student is a challenge. In this context, this thesis has been proposed to identify those factors that contribute to effectively implement the personalised feedback made by an individual teacher in an online environment asynchronous, both from the perspective of the student and the teacher. So for this I have responded to the following research questions: 1) What do students think of personalised feedback promoted by the teacher in a virtual environment? And more specifically, what makes characterization of the feedback received? And, what variables do students consider relevant to assess as satisfactory feedback?; and 2) What experience have a virtual teachers had to provide personalised feedback? And more specifically, what opinion do they have of personalised feedback? What obstacles have they had? And what is the relationship with the time taken to comment?

Recycled aggregates of mixed composition (MRA) may exhibit great variability in their properties, which in turn reduces their applicability. This study intends to extend the use of MRA in a broadened scope of applications by producing recycled aggregate concretes (RAC), which were mixed using two different types of cement, ordinary Portland cement and cement incorporating blast-furnace slag, and two types of water, fresh and seawater. The testing programme included analyses of the properties of concrete in its fresh (setting time and plastic shrinkage) and hardened state (physical, mechanical and drying shrinkage). The results showed that all of the physical and several of the mechanical properties as well as drying shrinkage were negatively influenced by the use of MRA. In contrast, however, the plastic shrinkage and flexural strength were improved. The use of seawater improved the mechanical properties, reduced setting time and increased drying shrinkage, however, it was found that the cement type was more influential on most of the properties. The use of seawater and cement with blast-furnace slag improved the performances of the RAC.

Abstract
Discrimination against women continues in the XXI century despite the advancement in gender policy and equality laws. In Spain, the Organic Law 3/2007 of March 22nd for effective equality between women and men claims establishes norms governing gender issues, but stereotypes and non-application of the regulations still hinder full participation of women. Our work is a summary of “the Genera Project: Promoting a more inclusive and competitive knowledge economy”, and aims at promoting excellence in science and generating change and social innovation in scientific institutions. This paper examines changes that organisations should provide for more inclusive and gender sensitive environments, which implies addressing the accountability of the law and checking how these norms influence academia. Although we expect a clear advancement in gender equality due to progressive Spanish regulation, the unchanged situation of women in science makes us doubtful of the real impact on the academic environment.
Moreover, evaluation of excellence and the decision-making process arouses the suspicion (Rees, 2011) because of structural bias linked to influence of male collegiate decisions and supporting networks of the candidate (Sandstrom and Hallsten, 2008; Sealy, 2010). Empirical research shows that decisions are based on personal observation and subjective opinions of evaluators (Campanario, 1998), and the stereotypes about the maturity and suitability of the male candidate (Van der Brink and Benschop, 2011). González et al. (2015) point out that the maternity wall is a handicap for women's progress, but the glass ceiling is also a big issue since men achieve milestones before women, even if they have accumulated more years of experience. Zynobyeva and Bagues (2011) state the failures of quality in the decisions of the ANECA (National Agency of Quality Assessment and Accreditation) for accreditation of full professor and associate professor positions, since the gender composition of panels is correlated with the greater likelihood of women achieving a positive evaluation.
In parallel with Zynobyeva and Bagues, we examine the evaluators’ panel in the ANECA database in the five scientific fields (Arts and Humanities, Science, Engineering and Architecture, Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Law). The gender composition of the expert’s panel should fulfil Spanish Organic Law 3/2007 for the provision of women evaluators on the final committee panels. Our hypothesis is based on the comparison of the fulfilment of gender quotas, which is mandatory by law, and other quotas such as geographical distribution, and field knowledge representation of the experts. The number of women in this database is fundamental for the fulfilment of Spanish Law and for choosing women experts, as well as preventing repetition of the same women on the panels. Because of the low number of women in this database, their obligation to participate in the evaluation process leads to work overload and fatigue. The results of this work provide a critical evaluation of Spanish gender policy, and show why gender-sensitive measures in Spanish scientific organisations are less effective than expected.

Women's access to higher education in Spain began in the last third of the nineteenth century. However, the full incorporation of women into technical studies did not occur until a century later. This article presents the results of research into the access of the first women to do technical studies in Catalonia (northeast Spain). Data have been collected from 11 technical schools belonging to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) with the aim of understanding the dynamics of the incorporation of women into these schools between 1851 (foundation of the first engineering school in Catalonia) and 1980. Interviews were conducted with 21 pioneer women who completed their technical studies. Their experiences show how technical schools had to adapt, both physically and culturally, to female students. Finally, the current status of female engineers in Catalonia is compared with the situation in other Western countries. Similarities are found that show the relevance of gender as a social structuring force.

This thesis based on classical models of student satisfaction and their antecedents in the field of higher education aims to deepen and develop a new marketing model for higher education. The antecedents of students' identification with the university and their perception of perceived university quality are proposed.
The thesis is divided into six chapters. The first chapter is an introduction where the need for studies on educational marketing within university education becomes evident. Its application in the higher education environment, where universities are increasingly competing to attract students, is justified. Focusing the state of the art of university marketing based on the conceptual frameworks of relationship marketing and corporate marketing, the need for further investigating the students' satisfaction and the marketing processes
that allow competition and their importance to guarantee economic stability in higher education are exposed.
The second chapter further analyzes the existing literature with the aim of introducing the essential constructs that support the research proposal. Thus, the classical models of organizational behavior sporadically used in marketing have been adapted to the higher education environment in order to bring about the proposed model and thirteen work hypotheses. A model with the novelty of introducing constructs such as perceived organizational support or self-perceived employability.
In the third chapter, the existing scales that allow us to obtain empirical data for each variable proposed in the theoretical model are analyzed in order to adapt them and create new ones. These scales will conform the questionnaire that will be the instrument used to obtain empirical data. Once the data are obtained, its internal consistency and its robustness are evaluated. For this, the Cronbach's alpha is analyzed and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are carried out.
In the fourth chapter, the hypotheses made in the second chapter by evaluating the proposed structural equation model (SEM) are compared. The results show that not all hypothetical relationships are significant, particularly some of the proposed antecedents of perceived organizational support. Likewise, most hypotheses are accepted and therefore most of the model constitutes a first empirical research that contrasts its validity.
In the fifth chapter, the results of the questionnaire are analyzed by means of a descriptive statistical analysis, by segmenting the survey population based on descriptive or demographic data. This way we want to identify the most important variables when evaluating a higher education organization and analyze the similarities and differences in terms of clusters. The results show that with increasing seniority within a university, the value of each of the proposed variables in the model significantly decreases. Moreover, it is observed that students with greater self-perception of good academic results value the university more positively than students with poorer perceived outcomes.
The final chapter presents the conclusions, the practical implications and the suggestions for future research derived from this thesis based on the state of the art and the empirical evaluation of the results obtained.

Background. The construction sector presents a significantly higher rate of work injuries than other sectors. Beyond strict legal compliance, voluntary protection programs (VPP) showed an average 52% reduction in accidents according with official sources. However, these figures have not been contrasted by empirical evidence. Moreover, VPP¿s do not usually include the contracting companies throughout the value chain, which are precisely those that provide much of the workforce of the construction phase of the projects.
Objective. The objective of this research is to propose an evidence-based Voluntary Protection Program for the construction sector (VPP-SC) with incorporation of subcontractors.
Methodology: After documenting and reviewing the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of voluntary programs in 5 countries, we carried out a field study in Spain and Mexico, where 309 VPP¿s were implemented in 87 contracting companies involved in the construction phase of 37 civil and residential projects. During the 13-month course of the project, monthly data on the results of accidents are taken, in terms of incidence rate and frequency rate, performance appraisal and management of occupational risk prevention (SVG).
The results of the field study support our hypothesis, namely: The voluntary incentive programs reduce accidents in the workplace and Subcontractors enrolled in VPP improve the management of occupational safety performance. Regarding the first hypothesis it has shown a significant negative correlation between accident rates and the number of voluntary programs adopted in the various workplaces. Regarding the second hypothesis, in 100% of cases, empirical evidence supports that participation in VPP improves SVG scores. Based on this empirical evidence, a VPP-SC has been proposed. The VPP-SC constitutes a performance indicator for the management of occupational risk prevention (PRL) that confirms the presence of continuous improvement processes

This thesis carries out a theoretical and empirical study on the relationship between the organizational commitment (OC), the intention to stay (IS) and the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of individuals with two concurrent jobs (a main job and a second job). Organizational commitment (OC) was studied as a multidimensional construct (with four dimensions: AC, CCHiSac, CCLoAlt and NC). The main objective was to study how organizational commitment in the main job (OC) influences the intention to stay (IS) results and also organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in both the main and in the second job. These constructs (OC, IS, and OCB) were tested in an environment of Catalan-speaking university part-time professors. This thesis is divided into six chapters:
The first chapter is an introduction. It identifies the concept of contingent work, organizational commitment (OC), intention to stay (IS) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) as the main areas of interest for this research. A brief summary is given of past scientific studies carried out on these concepts. In addition the objectives and specific purpose of each chapter are presented.
Chapter two presents the study to be carried out and discusses the relationship between organizational commitment (OC), intention to stay (IS) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) as well as the different dimensions which form the multidimensional construct of organizational commitment (OC). A literature search is completed with the aim of understanding these concepts and how they interact. Although there is a substantial amount of research regarding organizational commitment (OC), intention to stay (IS) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), this is always within a traditional environment (i.e. Full-time, long-term employment). However, very little research exists examining organizational commitment in an environment of pluri-activity. Some critical analysis of the previous theoretical and empirical studies is carried out and areas for future research are suggested.
The third chapter translates the OC (Meyer et al., 1993; Powell and Meyer, 2004), IS (Gellatly et al., 2006) and OCB (Choi, 2007) measurement scales from English to Catalan, using the technique of back-translation. The validity and reliability of a sample group of associate professors in simultaneous employment is demonstrated. The results validate the unidimensional construct of IS and OCB in addition to the multidimensional construct of OC, which is compromised of four factors: affective commitment (AC); perceived sacrifice of investments associated with leaving the organization (CCHiSac); commitment due to a lack of alternative employment opportunities (CCLoAlt) and normative commitment (NC). The results show appropriate psychometric results and provide preliminary validity for the Catalan version of the OC, IS and OCB constructs.
In the fourth chapter the research model for this thesis is proposed as well as the hypothesis it tests. To verify the model, two tests are performed to show convergent and discriminant validity. To verify the hypothesis, a beta test with structural equation models is used. Results do not support all the hypotheses posited, but show that it is necessary to consider all dimensions of the OC construct to explain IS and OCB in this sample. The results are important as the majority of previous research has not taken simultaneous employment into account.
The fifth chapter defines a theoretical framework showing the part-time teaching figure (e.g. consultant, associate) followed by a descriptive analysis of part-time teachers, considering only their second job as a teaching consultant.
The conclusions of this thesis are presented in the final chapter in addition to the practical implications and suggestions for future research.

The aim of this thesis is to reveal the crucial importance of geometry in the work of medieval builders and artisans, and to evaluate its symbolic significance and its capacity for spreading knowledge. In order to do so, this study will focus on the lberian Peninsula. lt may seem a huge and heterogeneous field of research, but it also provides an interesting example of cultural exchange marked by the continued expansion of several new Christian kingdoms in the north and the permanent presence of the Muslim community. The mutual influence between these two ditferent social realities affected them greatly, and constitutes an exceptional case of exchange of wisdom between two divergent artistic traditions.
The paper is structured into four blocks with three chapters each. The four blocks correspond to the most deciding factors in !he use of geometric designs in medieval architecture. These determinants are the defining characteristics of every geometric shape, the cultural group the building was addressed to, the artisan who made the motif, and the technical limitations.
The first part presents the essential features and the origin of geometric symbols. To begin with, the most enduring geometric patterns in the peninsula are recognised, and some native symbols prior to the romanization that prevailed until the Middle Ages are identified. Then, the reuse of signs coming from foreign traditions are analysed in a material and also in a conceptual sense. Finally, a study about medieval number symbolism is applied to explain some geometric designs as the graphic expression of symbolic numbers.
The second section presents two possibilities depending on the purpose of the geometric symbol. Firstly, the emblems of some medieval personages that had an impact on architecture are recognized and examined. The next two chapters study the root, the meaning and the objectives of the most important religious symbols in the Hispanic Muslim and the Christian architecture respectively.
The third block explores the attitude of medieval artists towards the geometric designs. This topic is clarified by the consideration of three different circumstances. Firstly, the ornamentation of some medieval buildings prove the existence of masons with a great sensitivity towards the geometric patterns , who were able to create very original iconographic programs.
Secondly, there were an extensive use of geometric designs to create identity signs among craftsmen and masons. Thirdly, a wide diversity of individuals spontaneously engraved geometric graffiti, some of which have been preserved until nowadays.
The last three chapters are devoted to the influence of technique in the production of geometric symbols. They observe the patterns originated almost as a result of the craftwork itself, the close attachment of some motifs to a specific architectural element, and the transformation processes of the geometric designs that arose as a consequence of technical, stylistic and cultural alterations.

Purpose: To estimate the transition rates corresponding to the 2010 and 2012 elections to the Catalan Parliament for the four constituencies in which Catalonia is divided for this purpose. The main features of the results, which are obtained by means of mathematical programming, are commented. Design/methodology/approach: Mathematical programming optimization models are formulated in order to find the transition rates that yield a better adjust between the actual results in 2012 and those computed applying the transition rates to the 2010 results. The transition rate matrices are estimated for each one of the four constituencies, since the set of options is not the same for all them. No other assumptions that those of numerical consistency are adopted. Findings and Originality/value: The transition rate models provide satisfactory goodness of fit. Mathematical programming turns out to be an easy-to-use tool for estimating the transition rates and, at the same time, very flexible, since, if necessary, it allows incorporating the constraints corresponding to additional assumptions. Originality/value: The transition rates from 2010 to 2012 in Catalonia are particularly interesting, since 2012 results implied a significant change in the composition of the Catalan Parliament. To the best of our knowledge, no other scientific journal paper has dealt with this question. Our results are available to the researchers in order to interpret the change and try to foresee future flows of voters.

Purpose: To estimate the transition rates corresponding to the 2010 and 2012 elections to the Catalan Parliament for the four constituencies in which Catalonia is divided for this purpose. The main features of the results, which are obtained by means of mathematical programming, are commented.
Design/methodology/approach: Mathematical programming optimization models are formulated in order to find the transition rates that yield a better adjust between the actual results in 2012 and those computed applying the transition rates to the 2010 results. The transition rate matrices are estimated for each one of the four constituencies, since the set of options is not the same for all them. No other assumptions that those of numerical consistency are adopted.
Findings: The transition rate models provide satisfactory goodness of fit. Mathematical programming turns out to be an easy-to-use tool for estimating the transition rates and, at the same time, very flexible, since, if necessary, it allows incorporating the constraints corresponding to additional assumptions.
Originality/value: The transition rates from 2010 to 2012 in Catalonia are particularly interesting, since 2012 results implied a significant change in the composition of the Catalan Parliament. To the best of our knowledge, no other scientific journal paper has dealt with this question. Our results are available to the researchers in order to interpret the change and try to foresee future flows of voters.

In the present thesis a theoretical and empirical study of the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) styles and organizational commitment (OC) is performed. These two concepts are examined as multidimensional constructs and are empirically tested within a French speaking population. The main objective of this study is to examine the mechanisms through which dimensions of TL influence different forms of OC by testing the possible mediating role of leader member exchange (LMX). The present thesis consists of six chapters and a brief summary of each one is given below:
The first chapter is introductory in nature. It introduces the concepts of TL, OC and LMX and the motivation for this research. It provides a brief summary of previous scientific work on the topic and it outlines the purpose and specific objectives of each chapter.
In the second chapter, a study and discussion of the relationship between leadership styles and OC dimensions is carried out. An extensive literature research is performed in order to understand leadership and OC as well as the relationship between these two concepts. Although there is considerable research which suggest that TL is positively associated with OC in a variety of organizational settings and cultures, there is little empirical research focusing on the precise ways in which style of leadership impacts employee OC. Some critics about previous empirical and theoretical studies are presented and a number of areas for future research are developed.
In the third chapter, the English TL questionnaire (TLQ) (Rafferty and Griffin, 2004) is translated into French using a back-translation technique. The validity and reliability of this instrument within two samples of French speaking populations is tested (Tunisia and France). Internal consistency is assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficient. The construct validity is verified using the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results support a four-factor model of TLQ which consists of vision, supportive leadership, intellectual stimulation and personal recognition.These findings have shown adequate psychometric properties and have provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the proposed French version of the TLQ.
In the fourth chapter, the English OC questionnaire (OCQ) (Meyer et al, 1993; Powell and Meyer, 2004) is translated into French and the validity and reliability of this instrument within the two samples of French speaking population is tested. The results have supported a 4-factor model of OCQ of the original questionnaire. These findings have shown adequate psychometric properties and have provided preliminary support for the construct validity of the proposed French version of the OCQ.
In the fifth chapter, some models that take into account the diverse dimensions of TL and the different forms of OC are proposed and tested by examining the role of LMX as a mediator between them. To verify the models, two types of validity tests are considered: the convergent validity and the discriminant validity. To test the direct hypothesis, Pearson's correlation and Betas in structural model are used. To test the mediation hypothesis, two methods are used: Baron and Kenny method and a nested model method. The results revealed that the proposed models are confirmed. These findings are important since previous research did not test these variables together.
Finally, the last chapter summarizes the contribution of this thesis. The possible directions of further research work are also discussed in brief.

This paper presents a methodology for the detection of critical airports (those whose isolation would cause the largest losses in network connectivity) in the global air transport network (ATN), based on simulating an attack on selected ATN airports using different adaptive selection criteria. The performances of several node selection criteria are compared, together with a new criterion based on Bonacich power centrality. The results show that most critical airports can be detected with an adaptive strategy based on betweenness centrality. The detection of such airports may help the development of contingency plans to develop an appropriate response to any airport closure.

In this paper we make analysis on flight flow network structure of Europe. The aim of this study is to analyze the robustness of the European civil European air transportation network from the perspective of the theory of complex networks. This study is based on analyzing the behavior of the network when its nodes (airports) are removed by random attacks and deliberate attacks. The selection of nodes on deliberate attacks is based on four criteria: degree, betweenness, pagerank and eigenvector. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the logistics network of European commercial flights, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of network statistical indicators as degree and betweenness distribution reveals that the flight flow network has the small-world characteristics and scale-free property.

SUMMARY -- The EUETIB, College of Industrial Technical
Engineering in Barcelona, at UPC, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, has started
a pilot group in the Degree of Industrial Engineering, in English since the first course.
We present a multivariate analysis (ANOVA) of the results provided by this pilot group in terms of
academic performance and students’ satisfaction with the quality of education received. In
addition, we assess the impact of the use of the methodology of the electronic portfolio
(ePortfolio) in one of the lab groups, compared with another lab group that did not use this active
methodology, although it did received instruction in English language.
Results are highly satisfactory, both in academic achievement and satisfaction of students in the
teaching received, when measured with standar- dized questionnaires. It also has been found that
the entrance mark at the studies is the main factor to determine the excellent performance of the
group. This experience suggests that the creation of a group of teaching English from first year in
gradu- ate studies in engineering promotes high motivation and high performance of students,
particularly in
the teaching of Computer Engineering.

Communication via air routes is an important issue in a world organized around a web-like city network. In this context, the robustness of network infrastructures, e.g. air transport networks, are a central issue in transport geography. Disruption of communication links by intentional causes (e.g., terrorist attack on an airport) or unintentional (e.g., weather inclemency) could be a serious drawback for countries, regions and airlines. Policymakers and the management of airlines and alliances should be able to reduce the effects of such interruptions in order to ensure good communication through air transport (i.e., maximize the robustness of their network at a reasonable cost). The literature review of the study of air transport route networks through an analysis of complex networks has highlighted a lack of contributions to the study of the topology and the robustness of such networks, which contrasts with advances undertaken for other transport networks or communication systems. The literatura survey suggests areas in which research should be undertaken, based on the existing literature in other areas and from three different perspectives: global route networks, airline alliances and airlines. The aim of this research is to develop a better understanding of air traffic and, in particular, to be able to assess the potential damage of any airport being inoperative for a continent, country or airline.

In this work two experiences from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) are presented. The aim of these initiatives was to introduce, develop and foster student sensibility towards gender inequity, as well as to encourage the critical thinking of the students from a gender perspective. From one hand, the “Equal Opportunities Seminar” brings the gender issues into a compulsory subject of several bachelor’s degrees, reaching to a high number of students (approximately 240 per year). On the other hand, the free-elective subject “Gender, Science and Technology” is specifically devoted to gender issues, being unique of this kind in first and second cycle courses in UPC. A reflexive discourse has been made up through the Grup de Recerca d’Igualtat d’Oportunitats a l’Arquitectura, la Ciencia y la Tecnología (GIOPACT), to which lecturers of these courses belong to. The singularity of these two experiences in the field of the technology turns them into pioneer initiatives in their environment and into innovative experiences by means of their aims and contents.

The organizational culture understood as the set of beliefs and values shared by the individuals of an organization, it can modulate
and guide, in different degree the behavior of the people who are employed at an organization and also of those who are joining
establishing processes of identity and exclusion.
The importance of the organizational culture like key factor for the efficiency of the organization, like comparative advantage and
also like process of change is demonstrated.
The organization can through performances and policies generate behaviors that support the existence of values within the
organization.
The equality of opportunities between women and men constitutes a value that must join the organizations, understanding the
equality of opportunities of kind as the absence of obstacles or barriers that make difficult to the women the participation in the
economic area, cultural and social politician in equality of conditions that the masculine group.
The equality of sort opportunities reports to the organizations a series of advantages and benefits that have their base in the
satisfaction of the personnel, the labor climate, the commitment with the organization, the enrichment and the corporative image.
The perception of an unjust treatment or discriminatory has organizational and personal, such consequences as the decrease of
the productivity, the increase of the labor absenteeism and the increase of complaints and legal actions.
The nonexistence of information and investigations on the perception of equality of opportunities of kind and his possible relation
with the organizational culture, has motivated the exposition of this thesis. The general aim of the thesis consists of determining if
relation exists between the organizational culture and the equality of opportunities of kind. To obtain this general aim it has
considered to identify the areas or dimensions more relevant that they affect the perception of equality of opportunities of kind. To
identify if there exists a typology of organizational culture that favors or impedes the perception of equality of opportunities of kind
and to analyze the relation between the dimensions of equality of kind and the type of organizational culture.
To reach the proposed aims has followed a concrete methodology characterized by 3 phases of investigation: the first one where it
is designed and validated a Scale of measurement of the perception of equality of opportunities of kind (EIOG), the second phase,
there raises a model of structural equations who relates the different typologies of organizational culture and the perception of
discrimination of kind and the third phase that relates the different typologies of organizational culture and the scale of perception
(EIOG).
For the elaboration of scale EIOG two representative samples have been used, one of 274 people belonging to the university
sector and other of 354 people belonging to organizations of the industrial sector and with more than 50 workers / hard-working
that have allowed the validation of the scale by means of an analysis of validity of content, convergent and discriminante, as well
as an analysis of reliability of the scale. The phase 2 and 3 develop across models of structural equations, statistical powerful tool
for the study of causal relations.The investigation concludes that relation exists between both variables object of this thesis, relation
exists between the organizational culture and the perception of equality of opportunities between women and men. The contribution
of this investigation to the business management is that the persons with responsibilities that occupy the management dome, can
have more prudent behaviors, identifying more dominant organizational or influential cultures in the perception and behaviors of his
employees and employees. The high direction must be conscious of this advantage implementing policies that promote the equity.